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United States Patent | 6,116,838 |
Whatley ,   et al. | September 12, 2000 |
An improved hay distributor is provided that distributes large rectangular hay bales or flakes of hay, operating on a conveyor principle wherein the bales are slowly advanced from the bed of the vehicle to its edge as the vehicle is driven, whereupon by mechanical action the bale is cleaved to flake. A stabilizer rod maintains the bale in compact form prior to flaking, and a base plate is provided, forming a point of retrofit attachment of the main frame of the distributor to the vehicle bed. The base plate provides a mounting support for converting between side distribution of hay from the bed of the vehicle. Next, an operating main frame includes a) rails, having an initial end and a terminal end, along which a hay bale is advanced, and b) incline-adjustable ramps disposed in the path of the rails at their terminal ends, over which the bale advances on its approach to the edge of the bed of the vehicle, which ramps cause natural cleavage of the bale into individual flakes by creating a line of stress. The flakes thus fall off the edge of the vehicle bed via a loading portal which is swingably and releasably mounted to the bed of the vehicle to reduce unnecessary physical exertion by a lone operator.
Inventors: | Whatley; Robert T. (P.O. Box 233, Hennepin, OK 73444); Sparks; John Scott (P.O. Box 233, Hennepin, OK 73444) |
Appl. No.: | 434374 |
Filed: | November 5, 1999 |
Current U.S. Class: | 414/25; 414/509; 414/515; 414/518 |
Intern'l Class: | B60P 001/00 |
Field of Search: | 414/25,501,503,504,505,509,510,513,514,515,516,518,521,523 |
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Foreign Patent Documents | |||
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